§ 7. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the Home Secretary how many aliens have been allowed to enter this country during each of the last three years for the purpose of working as hotel employés?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAliens are only allowed to enter this country for employment if in possession of permits granted by the Minister of Labour. The number admitted with such permits is shown in the published returns of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Questions as to the issue of such permits are for the Minister, but I understand from him that in the three and a-half years ending the 30th June, 1927, 620 permits in respect of hotel employés were granted and 167 refused, and that 546 of the permits granted 286 were on condition that a British subject, normally employed in the hotel arid restaurant industry, secured a position abroad by way of exchange.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIn the latter case, is the employment permanent in the case of the Briton who goes abroad in exchange for the foreigner who comes here, or is it a temporary job?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSA rough balance is struck between the employment there and the employment here.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us where all the foreign waiters which one sees in restaurants come from, having regard to the fact that only 600 appear to have been admitted?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSA great many of them are British subjects, born here of British parents. They are not under my care at all. I do not know where the others come from. I know that full returns of the number are kept, but I have not the same experience as my hon. Friend of restaurants.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONWhere permission is given to aliens to come here to act as waiters, is that permission valid only while they are acting as waiters, or does it become invalid if they leave the hotel and take other employment?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSA very strict record and watch is kept of all men who come here under the permission of the Ministry of Labour, and, if they cease to fill the occupations for which they came here they have to return. This is to help the labour market.